NALBARI, Nov 26: Close on the heels of the October 27 killing in the heart of Nalbari town and the gunning down of as many as eight woodcutters by the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants at Lunsung reserved forest in Kokrajhar district yesterday, suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants gunned down as many as four Biharis belonging to the minority community in two separate incidents in Nalbari district late last night.

According to reports, the first incident took place at Kumarikata Natun Bazar Chowk under Belsor police station in the district. About six suspected ULFA militants attired in black clothes and faces covered with black bandannas came to the house of Mr Suleman Ali (52), who had been running a shop of cushions, mattresses etc., at Kumarikata Natun Bazar since a long time, and knocked the door. Of the four -- Suleman Ali, his son Rezak Ali (17) and two employees of the shop -- who were in the house, Suleman opened the door. The armed militants entered the house and started firing killing Suleman on the spot and injuring Rezak. Hearing the sound of firing the neighbours gathered and immediately admitted Rezak to Nalbari Civil Hospital, from where he was shifted to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital. It may be mentioned that the two employees of the shop who were in the house of Suleman at the time of the incident fled the scene. Their whereabouts are not known till the filing of this report.

The second incident occurred at Jagara gaon, 10 km from Nalbari town at around 11.30 last night. About six militants came to the village and knocked the doors of about 16 Biharis who earn their livelihood by making cushions, mattresses etc., and started indiscriminate firing when they opened the doors, killing three -- Md Safi Alam (32), Md Kami Alam and Sukdev Majhi -- on the spot while the others managed to escape taking the advantage of the darkness.

A labourer who sustained bullet injuries in the militants' attack said press persons that the militants were attired in black clothes and they spoke Assamese.

PTI adds: The security has been tightened throughout Assam following Intelligence reports that the ULFA may create disturbances on the occasion of its protest day tomorrow.

Official sources said here today that all district headquarters have been put on a maximum alert and strict instructions issued to thwart attempts at disturbing peace.

GUWAHATI, Nov 26: Close on the heels of five successive massacres of innocent people over the last five weeks, suspected Ulfa militants again struck the state's Hindi-speaking population, killing four quilt-makers and seriously injured another, in two separate incidents near Nalbari town on Saturday night.

Police said that around seven cycle-borne militants came to the Jagara chowk, 12 km west of Nalbari town around 9.45 p.m. They dragged out two persons, Sukhdev Majhi (20) and Putul Majhi (22), from the rented house of the Deka Concrete Udyog.

The ultras forced the two captives to move to the nearby DG Tent House campus where four other people were staying in a small hut.

The militants then directed Sukhdev and Putul to call out the occupants of the house. When these people refused to come out, the gunmen entered the house and opened indiscriminate fire with AK-47 rifles killing two brothers, Safi Alam (33) and Kaumi Alam (22), on the spot. The militants then shot dead Sukhdev from close range.

Thirty minutes after the first incident the militants arrived at Kumarikata, 12 km south-west of Nalbari. Here they approached a small house located in the campus of a rice mill, where two quilt-makers were living. They knocked on the door and when it was opened, fired upon the occupants indiscriminately. One of the occupants, Salim Khan (42), died on the spot while another, Rafiq Khan (16), received serious bullet injuries and has since been shifted into the Guwahati Medical College hospital.

Police said that all the victims were from Maniane village of Muzzaffapur district of Bihar. Meanwhile, high civil and police officials have rushed to the spot and a massive manhunt has been launched to nab the militants.

Earlier, suspected Ulfa militants killed four persons at Nauholia in Dibrugarh on October 21.

The next day, 11 persons were massacred at Kakojan in Tinsukia, while on October 27 nine Diwali revellers were mowed down in Nalbari town.

Again on November 17 seven persons were killed at Bihubor Silani in Sivasagar. Although an unknown outfit, Assam Tiger Force, has claimed responsibility for the four killings, the state government maintains that all the incidents were handiwork of the Ulfa.

NALBARI, Nov 26: Unidentified gunmen killed four persons and injured one in two separate incidents at Jagara and Kumarikata villages in Nalbari district last night.

All the victims of dastardly attacks by the gunmen were from Bihar and have been engaged in the business of mattress and quilt making in those areas for a longtime in every winter.

Those who were killed at Jagara under Belsor police station were identified as Md Safi Alam (32), Kami Alam (25), and Sukhdev Mazi (22). The one killed in the shoot-out at Kumarikata under Mukalmua police station was identified as Suleman Ali (52). His 17 year-old son Rafique Ali was injured in the incident and later shifted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

According to eyewitness' account, a group of five militants armed with small weapons and coming on bi-cycles came to Jagara rented house of 16 Bihari cotton threshers at around 9.50 pm when all of them were sleeping after having dinner.

The militants then called out six persons namely Pathal Mazi, Basudev Mazi, Sanjoy Mazi, Kami Alam, Safi Alam and Sukhdev Mazi at gunpoint and tied their hands behind.

The ultras then fired indiscriminately killing Safi, Kami and Sukhdev on the spot while the rest managed to escape unhurt. Giving an account of the tragic incident, Navi Alam who lost his two brothers said persons living in other rooms of the house fled. He informed that all members of his family had been engaged in the mattress and quilt making business in the area for a longtime beginning with their father 40 years back. Every winter they used to come to the locality to do business. They took the house at Jagara for rent two months ago.

Another eyewitness of the dastardly killing, Saikat Ali informed that the militants after committing the crime threatened them to quit the State within a short time.

In another incident, gunmen killed Suleman Ali and injured his son Rafique Ali at Kumarikata. Two of the assistants of Bihari the slain businessman had remained missing since the incident last night.

Suleman has been living in that area doing business for the last 25 years and is married to an Assamese lady Budun Nesa Begum who is now in Bihar.

NEW DELHI, Nov 26: In a startling revelation, a home ministry (MHA) report on northeast militants says that several militant leaders, including Ulfa's commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah and the NSCN-IM's general secretary Th Muivah are now investing in multinational companies.

The secret report, portions of which was obtained by this correspondent, says Muivah has bought 12,450 shares worth US $1,25,000 (equivalent to Rs 70 lakhs in Indian currency) listed to an Irish multinational company, well known for the production of consumer goods. Interestingly, Muviah's name figures in the list of the company's board of directors.

Dhaka-based Paresh Baruah is the head of a company called the Karimuddin Export Pvt Ltd that has 325 employees, the report says. However, comments from the Ulfa and the NSCN-IM on these revelations were not immediately available.

In Bangkok, Muivah's nephew Paul and his Thai wife, Walaila K Luengdong own a toy manufacturing company and the Manipur Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) chief RK Meghan has huge investments in blue chip companies in Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore, according to the report.

Indian intelligence is said to have unearthed this "corporate face" of the militant leaders of the northeast when it tried to track down Isaac Swu in Ireland. Isaac is said to have flown from Amsterdam to Dublin to attend an Irish MNC's meeting. Muivah at that time was in a Bangkok jail, and hence he is believed to have sent Swu as his nominee to the MNC's board meeting. The report says that the NSCN-IM has prepared a "balance sheet" showing an expenditure of Rs 20 crore, but it is actually worth US $ 500 million as its chief has invested in real estate, shares, hotels and proprietorship of several companies.

The NSCN-IM is said to make over Rs 150 crore per annum through extortion and other means while the main source of money is from truck drivers as each truck passing through Kohima has to pay Rs 500 as protection money to the NSCN-IM, the report says. Extortion money from Assam is being pumped into export and other trading business via Dhaka where Baruah has a permanent seat and safe house. Baruah runs the Karimmuddin Exports in partnership with the brother of a former prime minister of Bangladesh.

KAMALABARI, Nov 25: A police party led by the subdivisional police officer, Majuli raided the residences of Sri Dilip Kumar Phukan and Sri Prashanta Saikia at Shilikhaguri village recently on the charge of their alleged links with the ULFA.

The police alleged that Phukan and Saikia were terrorists in the guise of teachers and searched their houses in order to recover "the hidden gun". In the absence of Dilip Kumar Phukan, police picked up his younger brother, Makhan Phukan along with Prashanta Saikia and detained them at the Majuli police station for a couple of hours, hurling expletives at them.

AGARTALA, Nov 27: In the face of the unprecedented financial crunch, the tea growers have decided to close down their gardens in the State indefinitely. Tea Association of India's Agartala branch secretary PK Sarkar on Saturday confirmed the report and said that it was no more possible for the fund-starved planters to run their gardens, especially during the lean period. However, steps would be taken to resume production with the onset of monsoon season, said Sarkar. The closure decision, though not unexpected following acute financial crisis, militants' offensives, extortions and at the same time State government's apathy, however, has come as a shock. At the very first go, the closure will render as many as 14,000 tea employees jobless in the State. Moreover, with the planters' decision, the future of the only organised sector of Tripura has become uncertain.

Meanwhile, Chief Regional Executive, Tea Board, R Horo, who is presently in Agartala, had a high-level meeting with Commerce and Industries Minister Pabitra Kar on Saturday in the Shilpa Udyog Bhawan to discuss the issue. A memorandum was also submitted to the minister, which suggested relaxation of excise duty, increase in subsidy on ratios, power subsidy, besides others. The garden owners are now adamant that unless these demands are considered, they would close down their gardens. The State government's failure to direct the Centre's drought relief fund to the estates has also caused serious resentment among the tea growers.

UNI adds: Meanwhile, the Tea Association of India (TAI) has urged the Tea Board to declare Tripura as non-traditional area for tea cultivation owing to inherent weakness and dwindling financial position of this biggest agro-industry in the State. In a letter to the Tea Board's North-Eastern Regional Office, TAI Tripura secretary PK Sarkar said a high-powered investigating team from the Tea Board might visit to assess the present critical financial condition of the tea gardens and suggest other long-term remedial measures.

GUWAHATI, Nov 27: Forty-eight hours after yet another massacre near Nalbari, there are reports of a massive exodus of Hindi-speaking people from the district and parts of Rangiya sub-division of Kamrup district. Sources said, a large number of people are crowding the railway stations at Nalbari and Rangiya with their baggage for catching outgoing trains. Most of them are quilt makers, barbers, cobblers, washermen and other petty traders.

Purvanchal Hindi Bhashi Samanvay Samity convener Vijay Gupta said that as a fallout of the recent massacres in different parts of the state, targeted mainly at the Hindi-speaking population, many such people want to leave the state, apprehending further escalation in violence.

He said a fear psychosis has gripped the people living in those areas, adding that he has received more than a hundred phone calls on Monday from different parts of the state by callers seeking his advice on whether they ought to leave Assam.

However, Assam government officials have denied any mass exodus from the state. Speaking to The Northeast Daily, GM Srivastava, additional director general of police (operations), dismissed the reports as "baseless." He said nobody is leaving and that such reports are "part of the false propaganda" being carried out in an "organised way" to create fear psychosis among the minds of the common people.

He added that the departure of quilt makers from the area is "not abnormal," since they usually leave during this time of the year.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened throughout the state on the eve of the Ulfa's protest day. Srivastava said that security, particularly in vulnerable areas, has been geared up and round-the-clock vigil is being maintained.

Close on the heels of the recent massacres in Naoholia, Doomdooma, Nalbari and Bihubar, there have been more such incidents of innocent people being killed over the weekend. Last Friday afternoon, heavily armed militants of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) shot down eight woodcutters at the Lungsung reserve forest in Kokrajhar district. The site of the gruesome massacre was so remote that the district police came to know of it only on Saturday afternoon. It was only when the woodcutters failed to return home that their relatives and other villagers went looking for them early on Saturday morning to find the eight bullet-ridden bodies lying in the forest. Then late on Saturday night, four upholstery makers from Bihar were gunned down in cold blood in two separate incidents in the Nalbari district. Fifty-two-year-old Suleman Ali, who was running a shop for cushions and mattresses at Natun Bazar in Kumarikata was shot dead in his house at night. His son Rezak Ali, aged 17, was injured, while two of the employees of the shop escaped. In the second incident, Safi Alam, Kami Alam and Sukdev Majhi were gunned down at Jagaragaon about 10 km from Nalbari at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday. The ULFA is suspected to be behind both the killings.

GUWAHATI, Nov 28: Surrendered United Liberation Front of Asom (SULFA) men were involved in the killing of well known journalist Parag Kumar Das, who was a vocal critic of the activities of the SULFA men in different parts of the State. This disclosure was made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today.

The CBI, which was entrusted with the job of investigating into the brutal killing of Sri Das, today filed the chargesheet of the case in the Court of the Special Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup.

The central investigating agency today chargesheeted two surrendered ULFA men, Nayan Das of Khowang of Dibrugarh district and Mridul Phukan alias Samar Kakati of Sivasagar district as the prime accused in the case. They have been charged under sections 302/326/34 of the Indian Penal Code read with section 27 of the Arms Act. However, according to the CBI, both the accused are now absconding. The central agency, in the chargesheet, said that two other accused -- Biswajit Saikia alias Tapan Dutta and Diganta Kumar Baruah -- both surrendered militants, died later. The CBI further said that two other suspects, Promode Gogoi and Prabin Sarma were not chargesheeted due to non-availability of evidence against them.

The central investigating agency, in the chargesheet, gave a detailed account of the career of Parag Kumar Das. The chargesheet said that Sri Das first edited a weekly paper Budhbar, which became quite popular among the masses. He then joined Asomiya Pratidin as the Executive Editor. In his writings, he strongly criticised the Government time and again and even voiced his opinion against the present system of Parliamentary democracy. He dwelt at length on the socio-economic problems of Assam and advocated the need for a revolution for a change. The CBI also dwelt on the role of Sri Das in the formation of the Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS) and said that he had voiced his opinion on several occasions in public speeches in different parts of Assam. He was also detained by the Government for his role and his book Swadhinatar Prastab was banned by the authorities, the chargesheet said.

Recalling Sri Das's association with the rebels, the CBI said that he had visited the camps of the rebel outfits. The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) even honoured him with the title of eNational Martyr' after his death.

As per the chargesheet of the CBI, Sri Das was a vocal critic of the activities of the SULFA men and that is suspected to be the main reason behind his killing. The CBI pointed out that Sri Das, through his writing, strongly criticised one Binu Chetia, a candidate from the Margherita constituency, who was later killed. A group of surrendered ULFA men even came to his office chamber to threaten him after the killing of Binu Chetia. At that point of time, Mridul Phukan, one of the accused, tried to engage one Kajal Khan to eliminate Sri Das but that mission failed. However, on May 17, 1996, the assailants, who came in a neptune blue Maruti car shot Sri Das dead from point blank range. As per the chargesheet from the photos identified by the eyewitnesses, it was proved that Biswajit alias Tapan Dutta and Diganta Baruah were present at the place of occurrence.

It may be mentioned here that Parag Das was brutally shot dead on May 17, 1996, just two days after the present AGP-led Government assumed office in the State. He was killed when he went to pick up his son from the Asom Jatiya Vidyalaya at the Rajgarh Road at around 3 pm. His son also received bullet injuries on his hand. The broad daylight killing created a sensation in the State and due to public pressure, the State Government entrusted the job of investigating into the case to the CBI. In the meantime, two of the suspects -- Biswajit alias Tapan Dutta and Diganta Baruah -- were killed and it is suspected that they were killed by the ULFA in retaliation to the killing of Parag Das.

AGARTALA, Nov 28: The anti-insurgency movement spearheaded by the Jamatia Hoda has received a shot in the arms when they got the much needed support from the State's royal family. Maharani Bibhu Kumari Devi, a former Minister, has condemned the militant activities and supported the ongoing struggle by the tribal communities in favour of protecting their age-old culture and religion.

Inaugurating the central office of the Jamatia Hoda (highest body of the community) here she said the boys who are in the militancy with a false promise are like my son, but they are misguided. She urged them to return to normal life and to participate in the developmental activities of the State.

Two Akra's (head of Hoda) Bikram Bahadur Jamatia and Haricharan Jamatia were present in the occasion. They announced the formation of a volunteer force who will stand guard in the Jamatia dominated areas to prevent the militants from interfering into their social activities.

The Jamatia Hoda started their anti-insurgency movement since the militant issued a dictate to stop worshipping the Hindu deities and all tribals to convert into Christianity. They also prevented the tribals to perform Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja since the last two years.

They also took action against the Jamatia boys who joined in militancy. They even tried 22 youths in their traditional courts who has refused to shun the path of violence.

AGARTALA, Nov 28: The militant activities in Tripura are on the rise despite stepped up activities of the security forces and growing resistance from the tribal societies. A recent official report reveals that the current year recorded the highest number of militant attacks since 1997. This year also topped the list, so far as killings and abductions are concerned.

The report said that altogether 397 cases of militant attack has taken place this year upto November, which was 367, 342 and 219 during the three preceding years.

The four years in assessment witnessed 908 killings of civilians by the militants of which the current year alone witnessed 264 killings. The year 1999 witnessed 227 killings while it was 211 in 1998 and 206 in 1997.

Over one-fourth of the total 1,374 abductions during the last four years had taken p lace during the current year which was 456. The figure was 389, 392 and 137 during the last three years.

In sharp contrast to this dismal picture, the success rate of the anti-insurgency operations of the security forces also was remarkable. During the current year the forces had 89 encounters with the militants which was only 42, 16 and 20 in the last three years.

Maximum number of 40 militants were killed by the security forces during this year which was 19, 22 and 15 during the three proceeding years. The forces also arrested highest 124 militants in the year 2000 which was 111 in 1999, 54 in 1998 and 30 in 1997.

The casualties in the side of the security forces also has been reduced considerably to only 15 this year which was 46 in 1999, 23 in 1998 and 49 in 1997.

GUWAHATI, Nov 29: Woes faced by the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) employees and their relatives due to the Corporation's failure to pay salaries since the last nine months are beyond human imagination. While the unpaid ASTC employees have been resorting to a fast-unto-death since November 7, their wives and children are running from pillar to post even to have one meal in a day.

Things, however, do not end here. Hundreds of employees who have retired after serving the ASTC with the devotion and sincerity for years together, are now at the fag end of their lives. Retired ASTC employees and even some of the widows are seen counting their days for being deprived of their dues like provident fund and pension.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Transport Minister Pradip Hazarika are oblivious about the ASTC employees woes. Being the head of the State and sole authority of the Transport Department respectively, they can play a pivotal role in carrying a ray of hope to the lives of impoverished ASTC employees and their relatives. But both of them, instead of trying to bring the ASTC once again on the track, are seen putting the blame on the ASTC workers for the present state of affairs of the Corporation.

Since the State Government is not conceding to the genuine demands of the ASTC employees like the payment of monthly salary, the concerned circles here feel that the sons and daughters of the ASTC employees, seeing the plight of their parents, may even go to the extent of taking up guns considering it to be the only way to do away with all their grievances.

The immense hardship faced by some of the families of the ASTC employees in their struggle for survival beggars all description. However, the cited examples can be treated as the tip of an iceberg regarding the present fate of the ASTC employees.

ASTC conductor Chandra Narayan Sarma had applied for payment of Rs 10,000 as advance in 1997 in connection with the treatment of his wife. His wife, however, died of cancer in January, 1998 without getting any treatment and after knocking every door of the ASTC officials concerned. Mr Sarma received Rs 3,620 in August 2000. "After serving the ASTC for years together I could not even minimum medical care for my wife. I have no other option but to accept this as the irony of fate," Mr Sarma lamented.

Another ASTC conductor, Mr Bhaben Deka, has been leaving no stone unturned to get Rs 30,000 as advance from his Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) deposit account so that he can spend the amount for the necessary arrangements of his daughter's marriage due to be solemnized on December 13. He has been trying to get the amount since the last two years. His daughter's marriage had to be postponed twice for failing to secure, the amount. "An amount of Rs 1 lakh is currently in my CPF deposit account. But I am not getting an amount from my own deposit. On the other hand, I am finding it difficult to sustain my family due to the ASTC's failure to pay my monthly salary. If all other alternatives fail, I will sell my property to arrange my daughter's marriage," he said, adding that two of his sons are looking to a bleak future ahead.

Another ASTC employee, Mr Bidyut Das of Bamunigaon near Boko, in Kamrup district passed away on August 15 this year after he ran out of money for his treatment. His widow, Ms Sarala Das with five of her children are now passing their days in penury and hunger. Forget about getting other dues, Ms Sarala Das is yet to receive three months' salary which was due to her husband at the time of his death, "I had sold all my ornaments to treat my husband. I spent Rs 80,000 to treat him," she said, adding that she has been purchasing all essential items on credit.

GUWAHATI, Nov 30: In a fresh incident of massacre of Hindi-speaking people unidentified militants mowed down at least 16 people in three separate incidents in Bongaigaon district between 6.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. today. According to sketchy reports available here late tonight, three motorcycle-borne youths, their faces covered with black bandannas, came just in front of the LPG bottling plant at Dangtol under the Dhaligaon police station, where several truck drivers were having tea at a tea stall. The youths started indiscriminate firing and killed six drivers on the spot. Two of the five injured in the attack succumbed to their injuries in a local hospital later. The militants fled away from the scene after pumping 50 to 60 rounds of bullets. Sources said that the deceased hailing from Bihar have been identified as -- Ram Avtar Mandal (45), Md Samsul (40), Jagadish Shah (40), Hukum Chand Sahani (60), Tuntun, Sitaram Giri (40) and K Bhatta (28).

On the other hand, militants gunned down five other Hindi-speaking people at Bishjora under Bongaigaon police station.

GUWAHATI, Nov 30: Militant attacks on non Assamese people continues to rock Assam as at least 16 persons were killed and 10 others injured in three separate incidents in Bongaigaon district since this evening.

Police sources said here that the militants first attacked a family of Hindi speaking persons near Birjhora village at around 6 pm, killing five persons on the spot. Sources said that the assailants came in a Maruti van.

Police said that the second incident took place at Dangtol market near the LPG bottling plant of the Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited at around 6.30 pm. Giving details of the incident, police sources revealed that two motorcycle-borne militants opened indiscriminate firing in the market, killing six persons on the spot while, two others succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital. Ten other persons received bullet injuries in the incident.

In yet another incident, a group of militants , who came in a Maruti van, opened fire at Lalmati-Bahalgaon village bordering Abhayapuri and North Salmara police station areas , killing three persons on the spot. Sources said that according to information available, the militants shouted warnings to the non-Assamese people to leave the State in all the three places.

GUWAHATI & BONGAIGAON, Nov 30: In yet another orgy of violence, gunmen struck terror in western Assam's Bongaigaon district on Thursday, killing 16 people, all but one Hindi-speaking, and injuring about 20 others. The latest strike has heightened the already existing panic among the Bihari and Marwari communities in Assam, with reports of exodus pouring in from different parts of the state.

The police said that around 6.30 PM, two motor cycle-borne gunmen descended on a small evening market in New Bongaigaon's Gang quarters (railway colony) area and opened indiscriminate firing from automatic weapons. Eight people -- seven Biharis and one Assamese -- died on the spot and several wounded. The market had shops belonging to petty Bihari and Bengali traders.

Around the same time, the police said, assailants in a Maruti car arrived in village Chitgaon near Birjhora tea estate, about 3 KM from Bongaigaon, and shot five people dead. The identity or the community to which the deceased belong is not immediately known.

A third group of gunmen then struck at village Bakhalgaon Lalmati, near North Salmara, under Abhyapuri police station, and sprayed bullets, killing three persons on the spot. Sources said that all the three, including a child, were Biharis. The police said that at least two persons sustained bullet wounds in this attack.

The cycle of carnage that began with the October 21 attack at Nauholia in Dibrugarh district where four people were shot dead just goes on. The next attack was at Kakojan in Tinsukia district the next day where 11 people were gunned down.

The scene of violence then shifted to lower Assam with the Diwali Day (October 27) attack in Nalbari where nine people, mostly Marwaris, were shot dead. Then it was the November 17 massacre at Bihubor Silani in Sivasagar district where seven persons, again mostly Marwaris, were shot dead. Prior to this, on November 8, eight persons were killed at Sukhrungbari in Barpeta district. On November 27, three Hindi-speaking people were brutally hacked to death in Tinsukia district.

As the dispute rages over whether it is the Ulfa which is behind the latest cycle of selective killings (the Ulfa has denied its involvement but the Assam government insists it is the handiwork of the outfit), there is total panic in the state.

SHILLONG, Nov 30: Balpakram National Park, the treasure trove of virgin forests with canes, bamboos, reeds, orchids and other flora and fauna unparalleled in luxuriance and varieties is today the home of a large number of militants of the two banned outfits of Meghalaya. "Not only Balpakram, a number of sanctuaries and reserved forests of the State are now the safe havens of militants," said an official of the Meghalaya Forest Department, adding that the Forest Department did not have enough staff to flush out the militants.

Requesting anonymity, the forest official pointed out that even if the Forest Department gears up its operation against the militants, hardly there will be any change in the state of affairs as only 11 per cent of the total forest area in the State is under the State Government's control. "Only the traditional institutions can drive the militants away hiding in the jungles," he said.

Among the Garos, Balpakram is also known as the "Land of Departed Souls," and there is a local saying "All Garos must see Balpakram, if not in life, after death".

When asked the official said that no special directive had come from the State Government or the Centre to man the forests with more urgency.

On the operations often being carried out by the paramilitary forces and the State police to flush out the militants hiding in the jungles, the officer stated that such operations continue without the knowledge of the Forest Department. "The State Govern-ment does not feel it is appropriate to inform the Forest Department about the operations," he said.

"There have been occasions when animals like deer, jungle cats etc., have been killed during crossfire, and this is not good when one has the prime responsibility of protecting wild animals," he observed.

The major problem over which the officer expressed concern is the militant-smuggler nexus. In this context, he said that there had been occasions when militants had even gunned down elephants for its flesh, and the smugglers helped in selling elephant bones and ivory. "Having an extremely lony border with Bangladesh, the smugglers have no problem crossing the international border and selling elephant tusks," said the officer.

Following the ban on tree felling by the Supreme Court, the timber business in the north-eastern region has slumped down considerably, but this has created a golden opportunity for the timber smugglers to sell timber in Bangladesh. He alleged that the rural people residing near the border areas are often hand in glove with the smugglers.

GUWAHATI, Nov 30: Another ASTC employee, Mr Bidyut Das of Bamunigaon near Boko, in Kamrup district passed away on August 15 this year after he ran out of money for his treatment. His widow, Ms Sarala Das and five of her children are now passing their days in penury and hunger. Forget about getting other dues, Ms Sarala Das is yet to receive three months' salary which was due to her husband at the time of his death, "I had sold all my ornaments to treat my husband. I spent Rs 80,000 to treat him," she said, adding that she has been purchasing all essential items on credit.

Another ASTC employee of Jorhat, Prabin Baruah, died on April 25, 1999 as he could not avail of any treatment due to lack of funds. The late Baruah's wife, with her two daughters and a son, is passing life with immense hardship. The authorities concerned have not even released any dues payable to the late Baruah's wife. Moreover, the deceased employee's wife is finding it difficult to get her husband's life insurance money, as the amount deducted from her husband's salary was not actually deposited in Life Insurance Corporation by the ASTC management.

Mr M.M. Goswami of Guwahati, who retired recently from the ASTC, has not received his pension and other dues. Mr Goswami is a kidney patient, and his only son has discontinued his studies after passing the HSLC examination due to financial constraints.

The ASTC is inexorbily moving towards oblivion. The State Government is not paying any heed to the implementation of the revival package for the ASTC. Even after two days of efforts to meet the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister, none of them were available to give their comments on the present state of the ASTC. Hence, The Sentinel has decided to put forward some open questions about the ASTC to Mr Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Mr Pradip Hazarika.

1. What are the plans of the Assam Government in respect of the ASTC?
2. Since the ASTC has been sinking financially and in terms of performance for over a decade, why did the Government not take the only logical step to close it down with golden handshakes to its employees instead of sinking more public money on a moribund corporation?
3. Just because the ASTC has been functioning as a loss-making white elephant, does the State Government think it has no statutory obligations to the ASTC employees in respect of their salaries, pensions and other dues?
4. Since the ASTC has been deducting contributions to the provident fund and the insurance premia from the employees, does the government, not realize that it has a statutory obligation to deposit at least the deductions made from the employees?
5. Does the State Government realize that it is a major offence not to deposit PF and insurance dues collected/deducted from employees since this is a statutory obligation? Or does it somehow believe that it is exempt from the provisions of the law merely because it is the Government?
6. Does the Government not realize that it has committed a fraud on its employees by not depositing the PF and insurance premia deducted from them?
7. Are the ASTC and the State Government trying to absolve themselves of their responsibilities to these employees in terms of salary, pensions and other dues merely because they have the power to get away with such legal lapses?
8. Is the Government at all aware of its moral responsibilities to the ASTC employees?
9. Does the Chief Minister realize that starvation and penury can very well drive the children of the employees, deprieved of education, to the arms of insurgent groups?
10. What have the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister done in the last few days of legitimate fast-unto-death demonstration by ASTC employees even in respect of the Government's moral and humanitarian obligations? Have they even visited some families of the employees driven to penury, hunger and death?
11. Has it not occurred to the Chief Minister that some amount could be spared from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to help the ASTC employees tide over their present state of penury and hunger? [S]

GUWAHATI, Nov 30: Despite pressure from the rank and file, the leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are not ready to hold a meeting of the general council of the outfit, police sources said here.

Sources said that the last general council meeting of the ULFA was held way back in 1995 in Bangladesh and a number of middle level leaders are of the view that the general council of the outfit should meet again to discuss the strategy. However, the top leaders could not gather courage to hold the general council for the last five years fearing open rebellion from the rank and file. Sources said that all is not well within the outfit and there are cadres who are ready to make telephone calls from Bhutan to inform the security forces about the decisions taken by the leaders at the first possible opportunity. The security forces have also come to know that recently the ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah threatened some of the political wing leaders of the outfit that they might leave the outfit if they wanted and that he was prepared to carry on the revolution without their help. This happened after some political wing leaders expressed their displeasure over the killing of a senior leader Prasanta Bora.

Commenting on the recent attacks on non-Assamese persons in different parts of the State, which resulted in the death of more than 50 persons in the last one and half months, police sources said that the militants resorted to such tactics in Jammu and Kashmir and in Punjab to terrorise people and till recently the militants of Assam did not resort to such tactics. But they resorted to such killings when they were pushed to a corner and suffered heavy losses. Moreover, from the reports available from the ULFA camps in Bhutan, the security forces came to know that the ULFA has targeted the ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) as its main enemy and hoped that the killing of the non-Assamese people would evoke strong reaction from the BJP-led Central Government. Another reason for the attacks was that the people started to refuse demands for money and according to reports available with the security forces, in some places, people have started to pay after the killings. More than 200 non-Assamese families have also left Nalbari district after the attacks.

Police sources pointed out that apart from the killing of ten persons in the heart of Nalbari town on the Diwali evening, all other killings took place in the bordering areas of the State. According to information available with the security forces, the ULFA commander-in-chief instructed the Deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah to launch attacks and Raju masterminded the killings in Nalbari. The ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa himself ordered the killings in Upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia and the attacks, which were carried out from the bases in Myanmar and Nagaland, were masterminded by senior ULFA leaders including Tapan Baruah and Ramu Mech, sources added.

Police sources said that according to information available, the Government of Bhutan has not taken any step to drive out the militants belonging to the ULFA and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) camping in that country and militants were seen openly move around in some market places with weapons.